The Christian life is not designed to be lived through our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who resides within us.

He produces spiritual fruit and provides spiritual gifts – the tools of the trade. We are encouraged to eagerly desire spiritual gifts in co-operation with the Holy Spirit who gives those gifts as he determines.

When our children pursue us for somthing they really want, that we know they will enjoy and treasure, its hard as a parent to resist; we often plan in secret to make the occasion even more significant, waiting to see the delight on their faces!

God will release his spiritual gifts in us as we eagerly desire them. At New Wine this year I found myself holding out my arms and yearning before God to release the gift of healing in me.

Each time I attend a Bible week like New Wine, or a church moving in the gifts of the Spirit, I’m even more encouraged to step out and have a go and I encounter a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit who reduces doubt and increases faith which can be caught as much as taught. I believe in the anointing of God for works of service.

God wants us to succeed and overcome all the works of the enemy in the process.

There is a process and we have to start somewhere with a goal in mind. Paul encourages us to ‘eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy’ (1 Cor 14:1). I believe this is a good starting point and this series begins with choosing to believe the prohetic gift can be a key to unlock the rest. Try and picture yourself eagerly desiring spiritual gifts and then on top of this even more desiring prophecy. When you do this, how can God resist and not give you what he promises to give.

If you are reading this based in a church other than Lakeside Community Church Perton, you will find a practical exercise you can try at the end of the message. When you step out in faith it is really exciting! When you pray for prophetic words before a service and give them out, it is exciting when you have taken a risk to see the very thing you heard/ felt/ pictured etc, actually take place. You are blessed and so is the person who is helped through that prophetic ministry. John Wimber called it ‘loving God and playing with the toys.’

God bless you,

Rob Pearson, Pastor